28th Annual Pepsi Independence Day Celebration, Johnson City, Tenn.

Everyone ready for an afternoon of fantastic entertainment, followed by fantastic fireworks at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Tenn.? It’s that time of year again! Free shuttle buses will be running again this year, from both ETSU and Winged Deer Park. You can get more information about that by clicking here.

The event starts at 5 p.m., with food, craft booths and games for the children.

Brinley Addington will take the stage at 5:00 p.m. Brinley is a Nashville recording artist, and Kingsport, Tenn., native. I’ve been a fan for a long time, and know you will all enjoy his show. Brinley is also scheduled to appear at our Appalachian Fair in Gray, Tenn., in August.

Between 5 and 7 p.m., attendees will have a chance to register for the Grand Prize, a 2013 Ford Fiesta! Other prizes being offered include a Great Smoky Mountains Super Pack Vacation Getaway, sponsored by Dixie Stampede. This package includes 2 nights at the Hearthside Cabin Rentals; four tickets to Dixie Stampede; four tickets to the Titanic; and four tickets to Ripley’s Aquarium!

Also between 5 and 7 p.m., you can register for a chance to win an August Race Weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. The winner will get two tickets to the Friday night Nationwide Food City 250, and two tickets to the Saturday Irwin Tools Night Race.

At 6:30 p.m., Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier will perform. They’ve been at this event before, and always put on a great show. Thee will be a break in their performance at 7:30 for a (tentatively scheduled) Military Fly Over. Jimbo and the band will finish at 8 p.m.

At 8:15 p.m., you will enjoy Confederate Railroad! These guys have been performing for 20 years, and gave us some very memorable songs – “She Took it Like a Man,” “Long Gone,” “Jesus and Mama,” “She Never Cried,” “Trashy Women,” and many more!

After the concert, the drawings will be held for the Ford, Smokey Mountains Vacation, and Bristol Tickets. Then, there will be a second Special Tribute to all Armed Forces, followed by the awesome fireworks display. When the fireworks conclude at 10:20 p.m., Brinley Addington will return to the stage for more music until 11 p.m.

Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that the weather will be good on Thursday, and we’ll all get to enjoy the afternoon and evening at Freedom Hall. I’ll see you there!

Everyone ready for an afternoon of fantastic entertainment, followed by fantastic fireworks at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Tenn.? It’s that time of year again! Free shuttle buses will be running again this year, from both ETSU and Winged Deer Park. You can get more information about that by...